[Rarebooks] Offering: Martin, A DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND, 1716

[Michael John Thompson]

Martin, M[artin].

A DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLANDS OF SCOTLAND. 
Containing A Full Account of their Situation, 
Extent, Soils, Product, Harbours, Bays, Tides, 
Anchoring-Places, and Fisheries. The Ancient and 
Modern Government, Religion, and Customs of the 
Inhabitants; particularly of their Druids, 
Heathen Temples, Monasteries, Churches, Chappels, 
Antiquities, Monuments, Forts, Caves, and other 
Curiosities of Art and Nature; Of their Admirable 
and Expedious Way of Curing most Diseases by 
Simples of their own Product. A Particular 
Account of the Second Sight, or faculty of 
Foreseeing things to come, by way of Vision, so 
common among them. A Brief Hint of Methods to 
improve Trade in that Country, both by Sea and 
land. With a New Map of the Whole, describing the 
Harbours, Anchoring-Places, and dangerous Rocks, 
for the benefit of Sailors. To which is added, a 
Brief Description of the Isles of Orkney and Shetland.

Printed for Andrew Bell, at the Cross-Keys and 
Bible, in Cornhill; T. Varnam and J. Osborn in 
Lombard-street; W. Taylor at the Ship, and J. 
Baker and T. Warner at the Black Boy in 
Paternoster-Row. MDCCXVI (1716).

The second (and best) edition, very much 
corrected. Octavo, contemporary paneled mottled 
calf, the spine with raised bands and elaborately 
decorated gilt in the compartments, contrasting 
leather label titled in gilt.  392 pp., collated 
complete, with a large folding map of the Islands 
and an additional folding plate "The Form of Ye 
Heathern Temple". This copy from the library of 
the Earls of Macclesfield removed from Shirburn 
Castle, with the large heraldic bookplate of the 
North Library on front paste-down and with the 
castle blind-stamps on first three leaves. Very 
slight crack near head of spine hinge on rear 
panel; a crisp, beautiful copy in a fine 
contemporary binding. ¶ The Scottish Gaelic 
Màrtainn MacGilleMhàrtainn visited the Western 
Islands and St. Kilda in 1697 and composed this 
work, first published in 1703 and now here 
published in a much corrected and enlarged form. 
Both Samuel Johnson and James Boswell read his 
book and took a copy of it along with them on 
their famous tour of the Hebrides in 1773. Martin 
was a native of the islands and a Gaelic speaker, 
he was therefore in a unique position to describe 
the early customs and beliefs of the islanders 
from the inside.  Despite it's literary faults, 
it is a veritable goldmine of information and by 
far the most detailed early account of the islands.

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  $2,750.00 Cdn

Terms: As usual

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Michael John Thompson
ABAC / ILAB
5275 Jerow Road
Hornby Island, BC
Canada V0R 1Z0
250-335-1182

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